Straight from the airport he heads
to Lucy’s house where the front
door is immediately shut in his face
after announcing who here is there
to see. “She’s not home,” he’s told.
Ten years later he would wind up
hearing stories directly from Lucy
while she was shooting a new series
called Life with Lucy. Sitting
inside her house after watching
the show’s premiere, Billy asked
her if she had ever met Charlie
Chaplin who likely inspired her the
way Lucy inspired him. Turns out
Lucy and her husband dropped
by Chaplin’s house once and had
the door slammed in their face by
a housekeeper as well with the
statement, “He’s not home.”
“It really blew my mind,” said Van
Zandt. “I felt so in synch with her
it was weird. I think when people
are starting out - whether they are
a musician, an actor, or anyone in
the arts - there’s a reason you’re
drawn to certain people. I had a
comedy rhythm with Lucille Ball.
I connected with her timing and
something spoke to me about it.
That’s why I thought of going to
her. Oddly, when I started working
with her and I watched her in
rehearsal, she rehearsed the same
way I did, which was weird. We’d
be telling stories and it was like,
‘That happened to me too.’”
Lighty’s Corner
If you’re looking for new rock
and roll songs, check out this
eclectic radio show hosted
by Gary Wien, publisher of
New Jersey Stage.
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 73
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